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Senior Software Development Manager Jobs in Washington

Senior Software Development Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$138K - $182K/yr

Then this role is for you! In today's software development landscape, collaboration, E2E ... Release and Deployment Management: You define and evolve the deployment strategy to ensure rapid ...

Sr Software Development Engineer

Reston, VA

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're ... As a Sr Software Development Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in guiding Workday's efforts to ...

Sr Software Development Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're ... As a Sr Software Development Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in guiding Workday's efforts to ...

Senior Software Development Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're ... software development engineering skills. * Bachelor's degree in a computer related field or ...

As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we're ... software development engineering skills. * Bachelor's degree in a computer related field or ...

Senior Software Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$119K - $157K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead software development efforts, collaborate with ... development lifecycle • Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills ...

Senior Software Engineer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$200K - $275K/yr

... provided Software Development Kits (SDKs). What will you do? * Analyze user and mission ... Develop, build, and manage Docker containers and Kubernetes pods and clusters. * Collaborate with ...

Senior Software Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$119K - $157K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to lead technical direction, improve software solutions ... development lifecycle • Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills ...

Senior Software Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$134K - $177K/yr

Additionally, the Sr. Software Engineer addresses and resolves software issues reports, employing suitable software development and design methodologies tailored to the development environment.

Senior Software Engineer

Chantilly, VA

$125K - $165K/yr

Leadsthe design, development, test, and maintenance of web applications that meet industry ... Leadssoftware project management activities and software supplier management functions

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Senior Software Development Manager information

See Washington salary details

$51.5K

$164.2K

$252K

How much do senior software development manager jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development manager in Washington is $164,163.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,400.00 and $195,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior development manager do?

A senior software development manager oversees the planning, coordination, and execution of software projects, leading development teams to ensure timely delivery and quality. They set technical strategies, manage resources, and collaborate with stakeholders, often requiring strong leadership, project management skills, and familiarity with development tools and methodologies. Their role involves balancing technical oversight with team management to meet organizational goals.

What are some common challenges faced by Senior Software Development Managers, and how can they be addressed?

Senior Software Development Managers often encounter challenges such as balancing technical leadership with people management, aligning team priorities with business goals, and fostering collaboration across multiple teams. Successfully addressing these challenges involves clear communication of vision, setting realistic expectations, and empowering team leads while providing guidance and support. Regular one-on-one meetings, effective delegation, and proactive problem-solving are also key strategies to ensure both team productivity and professional growth.

What is a Senior Software Development Manager?

A Senior Software Development Manager is a leadership professional responsible for overseeing multiple software development teams or large projects within an organization. They manage software engineers and development leads, define technical strategy, ensure project delivery, and align development goals with business objectives. This role often requires strong technical expertise, excellent communication skills, and proven experience in managing complex software projects. Senior Software Development Managers also play a key role in mentoring staff, optimizing development processes, and collaborating with stakeholders across the company.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior software development managers and highly experienced software engineers at top tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including base salary, bonuses, and stock options. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, leadership skills, and expertise in areas like cloud computing, large-scale systems, or specialized technologies.

How much do senior software managers make in the US?

Senior Software Development Managers in the US typically earn between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, with total compensation often including bonuses and stock options. Salaries vary based on experience, location, company size, and industry, with higher pay generally found in tech hubs and large organizations.

Can you make $500,000 as a software engineer?

Senior Software Development Managers and experienced software engineers in high-demand industries or at large tech companies can potentially earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with bonuses, stock options, and other compensation. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced skills, leadership responsibilities, and working in regions with high salary standards.

What is the difference between Senior Software Development Manager vs Software Architect?

AspectSenior Software Development ManagerSoftware Architect
Primary FocusTeam leadership, project management, delivery oversightSystem design, technical architecture, technology strategy
Required SkillsLeadership, communication, project management, codingDeep technical expertise, system design, coding, architecture patterns
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with teams, manages projects, stakeholder communicationDesigns technical solutions, collaborates with development teams on architecture
Common CertificationsPMP, Scrum Master, Agile certificationsTOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect

The Senior Software Development Manager primarily oversees development teams and project delivery, focusing on leadership and management. In contrast, a Software Architect concentrates on designing technical systems and architecture. Both roles require strong technical skills, but their core responsibilities differ, with managers handling team and project oversight, and architects focusing on system design and strategy.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Software Development Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Development Manager, you need extensive experience in software engineering, leadership, and project management, often backed by a computer science degree and prior technical lead roles. Familiarity with agile methodologies, cloud platforms (like AWS or Azure), and tools such as Jira, Git, and CI/CD pipelines is typically required. Exceptional communication, team-building, and strategic thinking skills help you inspire teams and align projects with business goals. These skills are essential to successfully deliver complex software solutions, foster high-performing teams, and drive organizational growth.
Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Manager job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $164,163 per year, or $78.9 per hour.

Senior Software Development Engineer

eNett

Washington, DC • On-site

$138K - $182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

About the Team & Role

Are you a technical artisan who thrives in collaborative environments

and gets excited about solving the right problems, the right way? Do you believe in breaking down silos and fostering a culture of shared responsibility? Then this role is for you!

In today's software development landscape, collaboration, E2E accountability, problem solving and streamlined workflows are key to achieving efficiency and delivering high-quality solutions that solve customer problems and generate business outcomes. We believe in the power of integrated engineering, where development, quality, and agility skills blend together throughout the solution delivery pipeline. In this role, you'll be a champion for this approach, fostering a culture of shared ownership and breaking down silos to ensure a smooth and efficient flow of innovation to customers.

How you'll make an impact

  • Collaborate with stakeholders throughout the SDLC to translate complex business requirements into high-quality, reliable, cost-effective, and maintainable solutions that solve customer problems and generate business outcomes.

  • Lead the design and development of major systems or constellations of smaller systems with a focus on Continuous Delivery principles and practices.

  • Champion integrated engineering practices within the organization, defining "Golden Paths" for service communication and cross-team technical standards.

  • Architect and implement advanced AI workflows, including multi-agent orchestration, state management, and memory persistence to solve high-value business problems.

  • Solve architectural bottlenecks that cross team boundaries and review designs from other teams for consistency, scalability, and long-term supportability.

  • Coordinate large-scale programs across many dependent teams, independently creating project plans and managing materializing risks with a high degree of confidence in delivery.

  • Research and implement new ways to keep teams efficient, staying ahead of industry trends and Agile practices at both the team and enterprise level.

  • Act as a talent multiplier by mentoring senior engineers, leading by example in code reviews, and fostering a culture of technical excellence.

  • Serve as the "Adult in the Room" during crises, providing guidance to resolve issues, determining root causes, and implementing systemic changes to prevent repeat occurrences.

Core Skills:

  • Programming/Software Development: As a Staff Engineer, you are an expert across multiple tech stacks and move freely between them to solve complex hurdles. You set the organizational standard for clean, maintainable code and drive the development of autonomous agentic systems. You are the primary architect for complex systems, ensuring that software is designed not just for immediate features, but for long-term scalability, resilience, and cost-efficiency.

  • Testing: You drive the organizational strategy for quality by organizing and overseeing a library of regression tests as a shared resource. You balance risk, effort, and coverage by directing regular reviews of environment-specific test suites. You collate feedback from end-users and historical defects to assessment where the most systemic risk resides, focusing engineering efforts accordingly to ensure a high-quality user experience.

Additional Valuable Skills:

  • Systems Integration: You lead the integration of complex, cross-functional systems and third-party services. You are responsible for identifying and resolving integration bottlenecks that impact multiple product lines or dependent teams. Your role ensures that disparate components align architecturally to maintain a cohesive, resilient, and high-performing ecosystem.

  • Release and Deployment Management: You define and evolve the deployment strategy to ensure rapid, safe, and consistent delivery across the organization. By automating complex release workflows, you reduce manual effort and increase reliability across the program, managing the critical path for major initiatives spanning multiple dependent teams.

  • Methods and Tools: You define the technical vision for our tooling landscape, researching and adopting cutting-edge tools that improve decision-making and automate repetitive tasks. This ensures data-driven development and organizational efficiency, keeping the engineering team current in a rapidly evolving field.

Experience you'll bring

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

  • Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in software engineering and delivery, with a proven track record of leading multi-team initiatives.

  • Expert proficiency in multiple programming languages and modern architectural patterns (Microservices, Event-Driven, etc.).

  • Hands-on experience building with LLMs and designing multi-agent agentic workflows (handling state, memory, and tool calls).

  • Strong understanding of continuous delivery principles and mastery of automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, etc.).

  • Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to navigate high degrees of ambiguity.

  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for a wide variety of audiences, including senior leadership.

  • Ability to work independently and as a strategic lead within a cross-functional technical team.

The base pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual pay rates will vary and will be based on various factors, such as your qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Base pay is one component of WEX's total compensation package. Most sales positions are eligible for commission under the terms of an applicable plan. Non-sales roles are typically eligible for a quarterly or annual bonus based on their role and applicable plan. WEX's comprehensive and market competitive benefits are designed to support your personal and professional well-being. Benefits include health, dental and vision insurances, retirement savings plan, paid time off, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and more. For more information, check out the "About Us" section.Pay Range: $140,600.00 - $173,100.00